SHILLONG: In a bid to give further fillip to football and to make Meghalaya a “football power house” of the nation, the State Cabinet on Friday approved the mission document for the launch of Mission Football.
As the state has tremendous potential for football, the government through the Mission Football intends to further promote the state as a football power house.
Speaking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma said that the initiative had been born out from the fact that India despite being such a populous country was yet to have qualify for the football World Cup.
“The mission document reflects the humble intention of the government to take advantage of the people’s passion and the vision to make Meghalaya the football power house for the nation,” chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters.
The Mission Football aims at transforming Meghalaya, a state known for its love for the game, as the “football power house” of the nation.
Stating that the mission documents will be released on Saturday, Chief Minister said that the Mission Football will create an environment in the state for talents in football from the within the country and the globe to come to Meghalaya and exchange their ideas with the local footballers here.
The move of the government would require investment to create new infrastructure besides upgrading existing football structures in the state and it would also act as a catalyst to promote sports tourism in the state
The state government has earmarked Rs 560 crore as the supporting budget for implementing the various programmes under the mission.
He, however, said that the government would also aggregate this proposed budget with other sources of funds available with the government from central ministries, NEC, NLCPR besides private sectors.
Under the Mission, the Government intends to create sport infrastructure besides promoting football which will be a regular activity in the state.
The Mission would also have special focus on blocks, sub-divisions, districts, referees, coaches and women football.
In addition, there will also be scope for attracting investment from private sectors on a PPP mode or as a complete private investment – these are the other ways and means in promoting the state as a destination for sports
The Chief Minister maintained that the state government would not be providing lands to private players for developing the infrastructures.
“The sports organizations will have to look at lands which are under their possession and prepare project proposals,” he said adding “Up to 30 per cent project cost will be borne by the government subjected to a ceiling of Rs 75 lakh.”